The ancient Greek word pneuma (πνεῦμα) translates to “breath,” “wind,” or “spirit” in English. It comes from the root word pneu, meaning “to breathe.”
In Latin, the word for spirit is spiritus. At its most literal, it translates to “breath” or “breathing”. Because breathing was viewed as the fundamental sign of life, the word expanded in meaning to also encompass:
Soul or life force
Courage,
vigor, or enthusiasm
Mind or disposition
Ghost or incorporeal being
The word comes from the Latin verb spirare, meaning “to blow” or “to breathe”. This same root is where we get many other breathing-related English words like aspire, expire, inspire, perspire, and respire.
When my cat Berlin died in my arms his body stretched out, his mouth opened wider than I ever thought it could and all the air in him went out.
What was left was a husk that looked nothing like him. It was horrifically sad. He had been with me from his birth.
I lay his body on my bed waiting for him to come out of rigor. Cats go into it so fast.
My friend Petunia (of Petunia and The Vipers) came in the back door.
It was St. Patrick’s Day. There was snow on the ground.
He said, “I saw your cat, Merlin. He ran towards me. There were no footprints in the snow.”
I said, “His name is Berlin not Merlin. You did not see him. His body is lying upstairs on my bed.”
Petunia said, “I told you there were no footprints in the snow.”
I said, “That cat was dying to get out.”
Until Berlin was taken by someone who took him for keeping I used to let him and my cats Askhim and Irving run free. At around 6pm I would call them. They would run from wherever they were joyfully.
I stopped doing that after Berlin got taken.
After he was gone for a week I posted flyers saying I had lost a cat.
A nearby vet called to say he had been brought to him.
After Berlin’s death I adopted three cats: Stephen, her son, Boss and Zorro who was traumatized.
I thought it would take over a year for Zorro to come round. He bit, clawed, hissed and scratched.
I had to take medication for his bites.
The third time he bit me I said to him softly, “You know it is okay.”
To my astonishment he had a complete change of heart for the better. From that moment until his death in 2021 he spent every moment near me.
I got head bumps galore.
In Hollywood, California in 1970 I met a man who chose to break the law of the land to keep a higher law. I tell that story in my self-published THE NIGHT THEY RAIDED ROCHDALE. Comic artist Chester Brown illustrated that story with a piece of art meant to help me raise money to cover my legal fees at the time. It did not as only a very few responded however it is a real hour to have Chester create this.
On the morning of my last day in my third lawyer’s office The Spirit told me to sign nothing presented to me that day.
My lawyer’s office did their best to terrify me into pleading guilty to charges they knew I was innocent of.
I had been warned my lawyer was a dumptruck, a shyster.
I fired my lawyer.
I chose to follow the words of Jesus in the gospels: to trust in GOD and come to terms with my adversary before going to trial.
Why? Because a stranger I met in Hollywood caused me to have a change of heart for the better (the word “repent” means change of heart for the better however the word “repent” is too strong for the idea it is meant to express. There is no love in the word).
The charges were dismissed.
The Crown told he Court no evidence had been found to support them.
When I spoke to the Judge about my experience with the three lawyers friends had insisted I use instead of trusting Jesus the Judge said, “They are all like that.”
I hope not however it seems they are.
One of the signs that we are on the right path is that persecutions arise. You would not know it from the way many who call themselves Christians react however we are to meet them joyfully returning good for evil which means exactly what it says.
That does not mean taking our persecutors to court nor does it mean dropping tons of bombs on them.
A woman who came here told me she had been nearly killed in an accident that broke every bone in her body.
She said she was now able to see spirits and that my home is filled with the spirits of happy cats, dogs and people.
Jerzy Zaborski Rinpoche, an archaeologist, Egyptologist, Sumerologist and a Tibetan Lama who accompanied the Dalai Lama on his first journey across Canada, said to me, “You are a Crazy-Wisdom-Yogin.”
I said, “I hear crazy often enough. What does the rest of that mean?”
He said, “That you are living fully the life you re teaching. It is the highest compliment I, as a Buddhist, can pay.”
I said, “I’m not. I know how far below the mark I fall. Would you care for a beer?”
Luckily, he did.
Luckily, I had twenty-four.
A film buff told a friend Toronto has a great repertory scene and he should not waste time coming to The CineForum as I am an island unto myself.
He did not intend it as one but that is a compliment.
The phrase “island unto one’s self” comes from the Buddha’s final teachings (the Attadipa Sutta). It means to rely on your own inner wisdom and mindfulness rather than seeking external salvation or relying entirely on others. Your only true refuge is the Dhamma (the truth of reality) and your own practice.
The same thing is found in THE NEW TESTAMENT:
1 John 2:27 “You have no need that any wo/man should teach you for the spirit with which you were anointed is your teacher.”
Matthew 23:8-10 “Call no one teacher. Let no one call you teacher.”
My friend said, “I like that island.”
Interesting things happen when we become islands unto our selves.
In a world seeking a Messiah we are to be the Messiah in our world.
My cats are happy cats.
Emo Philips sent me a postcard on which he wrote, “You are the greatest teacher I know for only you preach the evil of teaching. Well, not only you. David Mamet confirms everything you’ve been saying all along.”
Mamet writes, “Invent nothing. Deny nothing. Stand up. Speak up. Stay out of school.”
That take spirit.
Without that spirit we are dead.–Reg Hartt
‘No Man is an Island’
No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as any manner of thy friends or of thine own were; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind. And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. Olde English Version No man is an Iland, intire of itselfe; every man is a peece of the Continent, a part of the maine; if a Clod bee washed away by the Sea, Europe is the lesse, as well as if a Promontorie were, as well as if a Manor of thy friends or of thine owne were; any mans death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankinde; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee. MEDITATION XVII Devotions upon Emergent Occasions John Donne